I used to sit at lunch and when asked why I was not eating I'd always say I was not hungry. Then one girl started to say she didn't like fruit and would give me her apple each day. I was able to eat for about 6 months an apple. I was so sad when she moved. I wish all children had something to eat at school.

In Finland, school meals have been free for ALL children since 1943...

I find it ridiculous we enforce school uniforms and yet we don’t enforce school meals, parents are forced to pay almost £100 for a uniform & replace it if it gets destroyed, when that money could go towards their meals instead.

Nobody should be going hungry in this country or anywhere for that matter, but the fact that there are children going to school hungry and going to bed hungry is an abomination.

Me and my friend used to steal food from the school canteen because her parents never gave her pack lunch, or money to buy lunch. The school would have just allowed her to go all day without eating anything, everyday. I just think that is really sad, tbh. I became friends with her on our third year in school, so she had already gone two years without anything.

Charity shops are very busy now, if you have to pay £4,350 on Energy Bills then no one will have any money. Basically working for nothing a zero wage🤔

That headmaster is a really great guy 🙏🏽 Why aren't people like him running the country, and the people who ostensibly are 'running the country' mounting the scaffold 🤬😢🤮

Law must be changed so the meals are provided all school children. This will eliminate hunger and feeling shame of being poor in school children. It’s shameful in country like UK school children are going hungry.

School meals should be free just like meals are free in hospitals and prisons. Jeez, even society's convicts get fed AND 3x a day

This head teacher is right there needs to be free school dinners for every child at every school in UK every where

Just because our parents scrape the minimum doesn’t mean we are doing well. Wages haven’t gone up but everything else has so I’m glad it’s being acknowledged that there are families who are struggling and not eligible due benefits.

I’ve taught in private UK schools as well as mainly in the state sector. As parents pay for their children’s lunches they are truly amazing…all freshly cooked, by chefs, nutritionally balanced, with cake mid-afternoon, and fruit snacks in the morning. Without proper nutrition there is no equal access to education…hungry children can’t learn, malnourished brains can’t learn, worried brains can’t learn. I’m in the state sector again, with my class of 28, some with learning challenges which in the past would’ve meant a SEND school with specialist teachers, 13 native languages, poverty and social challenges…and basic quality food, carb heavy, no snack after ks1, no milk after ks1, and my heart breaks for those going home to similar or nothing for tea. Already I can see the effects of their carb rich diet, some children underweight, some children overweight. There is no “levelling out” until access to good quality food is equalised…being hungry is not a good way to start the day. If it were up to me I’d take away child benefit, install kitchens into school again, employ cooks and I’d provide children with a good meal every day made with good ingredients, for those with less I’d provide breakfast, I’d give every child access to fruit at playtime and milk if they wanted it, and snack in the afternoon. I’d provide school uniform for every child, a winter coat every year and shoes which fit. I’d reinstate the school dental service, school hearing and sight tests and school nurses. And I’d normalise school meals…none of the children in the private schools took packed lunches because the school meals were so good…they could choose sandwiches if they wanted…but they didn’t. Good health is laid down in the foundations of our youth. My heart breaks for the children who go to school hungry and feel that they have to steal food…life is supposed to have progressed since the Victorian days!

Hunger is a terrible thing to go through

I believe that every child on this Earth should always have a meal no matter what. It's sickens me when over here in the US millions of pounds of food are being thrown away when families who are hungry could be eating this. It goes to show you we have a society that is very selfish and needs to change. God is watching all of us.

I was a free lunch kid ( in the US). I remember the terror of a new lunch lady asking for lunch money. I told her I didn't have any and I just put my in. She told me there wasn't any money in the account and I can still remember grabbing the edges of my tray thinking she was going to make me give it back. One of the other lunch ladies heard what was going on and she said it was ok for me to go. I'm 36 now and still remember feeling small. No kid at any school, anywhere should not be offered free food.

This makes me tearful.

This is a world wide problem. The churches and foodbanks are feeding a lot of them in my area.

Do we really all think the Tory government care about poor kids not eating or getting an education ? I've got news for you.

After covid the quality of school meals has gone down drastically. My child comes home saying the food is not only inedible but the portion size is tiny which is so sad as I rely on the free school meals to ensure they have a hot dinner at least once a day. They say it's not fresh, they give tinned fruit, artificial mashed potato's, and the only vegetable they get is some grated carrots. I mean what has the government come to that children can't even be fed a piece of fruit or a proper potato. I am absolutely appalled, and when I've questioned it, no one has taken me seriously. I am so sad and frustrated for all the children going hungry 😭

This is too sad. Parents on low incomes are struggling.

I was the recipient of many a low cost , free school meal after the death of my father. The breakfasts, especially made a big difference in my ability to concentrate and do well on my studies. It is a shame for school systems to let kids who can't afford a meal at home, to be unable to get a meal. In essence , it's torture.

I had a friend that shared her egg sandwich with me and I still remember her kindness.

When I was at school it was a stigma to be on free school meals . This has to be stopped too. School meals CAN be done for "FREE" if they are cooked in school, not farmed out to some company at huge cost to the school. When my dad got a very very small pay rise I got taken off free school meals and for the most part went hungry and yes you do get brain fog where you are not taking anything in . I knew a boy in my year who would do homework for other kids for a sandwich, he even got bullied for that.I am talking 30+ years ago...nothings changed and I thought those days were over.

Great piece. Wish I'd had a headmaster like that at school, what a great guy

What a fantastic headmaster. We need many more teachers and headmasters like him to save our education system and our children.

I remember being a child and having to exist on nothing all day, could not learn or run around, I see pictures of myself as a child and it is just trauma. I never recovered and at the age of 21, I can barely work, I am still underweight.

Yep, I have seen this happening as a teacher and it breaks my heart

All children should have a free school meal, there could be a system for donations for parents who can afford.

there was this boy in my school who didt have money, clothes, or a car - his mum - and his dad had died. with both of my older brothers that went to that school aswell we had more uniform than we needed and was just going to chuck it away. the boy constantly got in trouble for “not wearing the right thing” but when i went to talk to him he told me about what happened. i instantly felt terrible as i grew up with a rather wealthy family with living with luxury’s that most kids in my school didn’t have like a big house in the middle of no where. that night i told my mum and she asked if i wanted to go out shopping with her to get some food for him and his family. i was really exited that we were in a position where we could. so we went to m&s and bought essentials and also so fun things like percy pigs and crisps. i still remember 10 years later his face when he saw everything. he gave me a great big hug, he went to the bathroom and changed into the correct uniform. i haven’t met anyone more grateful in a long time!! ❤❤

Very lovely caring headmaster.

And it doesn't help when food companies are shrinking food and charging more for it. Deliberately starving people.

But they have enough money to support the Royal family.

The little girl at 1:00 is a beauty, look how her smile lights up the atmosphere. Her smile is so sweet, if she was at the old people's home, their depression would vanish....

Food bank Britain seems to have let too many different nationalities in judging by this.

So Rishis pool costs over twice what it costs to feed an entire primary school lunch for a year

This is so awful. Kids need to eat.

It’s ridiculous that the government is happy to supply the needs of the illegal immigrants rather than to supply the needs of the poor children or families in this Country. They are happy to give the money to the international aide but the elderly are struggling and die with the cold weather because they are worried about their electric bills. That’s sad 😢

I am shattered, my heart breaks for these children and for the first time in my life I realize that I was one of them too. I never think of it and even as a child, like other people have mentioned, I’d never say anything because I didn’t want to add to the burden. Food should be available throughout school to all students. Quality food especially because even those who do get by at home, it will most often be unhealthy and not very nutritious food. There would be less children reaching adulthood with eating disorders or already overweight fighting a losing battle. Better able and happier people to join society, the savings in health spending alone would more than make up for the school meals.

thought it was up to parents to provide for the kids meals and take responsibility. not government

No child should have to go hungry,the government should give all these poor children free school meals, like someone said we are not in Victorian age's

Sounds like the criteria for allocating free school meals is woefully out of touch with the real world !

I remember in the 1970s my mum put money in an envelope which I gave to my teacher on monday morning for school dinners for 1 week. She once forgot and they refused myself and my sisters dinner for that day.

Feed all these children.

In Sweden all children have free lunch at school. That makes them more healthy and more alert to go through the schoolday and it makes them in the long run get good grades and a better future.

Got money for wars, no money for the poor….😢

The US started the The Community Eligibility Provision, if more than 40% of the kids at the school get reduced price lunch, they just give free meals to all the kids. It would be better if it were universal free lunch but at least it's something.

In Pennsylvania they made free breakfast for every kid free.

Beyond sad and unacceptable

I'm ashamed of this country. When I was a kid during the late 60s early to mid 70s . The free school dinners and milk where sometimes the only meal I used to eat all day. So instead of going forward where going backwards.

My children get free school meals and we are so Very grateful for these meals 😊 ❤

It is all politics and greed.....and the World Economic Forum.

Crazy how many ppl just breed knowing full well they can't afford kids....

For all the people out there who judge what some of those parents wear, their hair or whatever… please stop! From my own experience, we had SOME toys or clothes that were more expensive than any of the rich kids on my street would have ever had, because both my parents worked odd jobs for a myriad of people, I’ve met so many freaking people in my life you’d not believe, from lawyers, to farmers, people from ‘abroad’ that would come and pay for renovations/repairs for their elderly etc and would pass things down, take this or that to your kids, even well fare clothes would sometimes be really good if they fit. A woman with her hair done, could have her sister l or a friend do that for a living and so she did that or nails for her, she didn’t pay a penny, returned the favour with another favour. There is a LOT of this going on in these circles, that doesn’t mean these people have a penny or food for themselves or their children. Also from personal experience, you’d have guys beg to buy you another drink and most drinks, would give you cigarettes but God forbid you ask for money to buy a bread for your kids, which would be cheaper than one drink. Most people can’t stand someone getting anything that might get them ahead, they are ok with giving someone drinks until they fall over but buy your own food, if I help you pay for it then you’re up that much money that you could spent on something else they might not have or thought of and it would eat at their soul. This is the stark reality of life, so don’t judge!

School throw away left over foods so sad not feed these poor kids without food

Can anyone enlighten me why kids go hungry when a packet of large Kelloggs Cornflakes cost £3?

Adults can make their own decisions but kids didn't ask to be here.

I was a hungry child sixty years ago. I know what it’s like to have my stomach burn with hunger and my feet freeze with cold because my parents couldn’t afford to buy us strong winter shoes. WTF has the Tories done to this country?

God help these families. No child must go hungry ❤ Also let us all try to not waste food. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

No children should go hungry.

Poor people shouldn't have kids, but they have the most because they have too much time on their hands.

Many angels on earth on this program

No child should ever go hungry. School lunch should be free for everyone, but at the least they should raise the income cap because £7,400 for a family of 2 is ludicrous. £7,400 is around €/$8,500. I can't imagine anyone supporting just themselves on that, let alone themself and a child. I also did some brief research on the eligibility requirements outside of what is mentioned in the video, and it seems that this cap does not increase with household size-- so a single mom of 1 has the same income cap as a single mom of 3 to qualify for free lunch, which makes no sense. Free lunch programs in the US cap family at income at around $33k for a family of 2 (the exact amount varies by state), though families that earn a bit more can still qualify for reduced-price lunch. The income cap increases by household size. Districts will also just make school lunch (and breakfast) free for an entire school if the poverty rate for that district is relatively high (>40%).

Children should be able to look gleefully forward to school holidays and summer vacation, not dread them because there isn't enough food at home. What are the parents eating?

It’s the same crisis here in the US and no one really talks about it

Cost of living goes up. Wages stagnant. This is the result.

But why do people keep having more kids when they can’t afford to feed them? Yes the government is at fault here, that goes without saying. But also the parents need to take some responsibility, I’m talking about the ones that are crying showing empty cupboards saying they can’t feed their kids or heat their home, and saying it’s been that way for a long time, but are pregnant or planning more kids. Why?? Why put children through that hardship if you as a parent cannot provide for them like everyone has to do with their kids?

No free meals here in Australia, you can only buy from the canteen, payed in cash on the day!

Have you seen that most food banks in the UK are in the cities and not many are outside in the countryside.

What’s wrong with a cheese or ham sandwich and a pack of chips like when I was a kid.

The ones that make these policies need to spend a day with the school a day and a day with the families to get the reality check

I wish a prophet comes down to deliver us from hunger and poverty.... Yes am hungry my brothers and sisters

This Headmaster is an hero xx

There kids stealing out off other kids pat lunches and this isn't fair on other children who get sent to school with lunches .. I understand there hungry but things need to be put in place fir these kids ..government are failing these families and children unbelievable

I grew up in London in the 1950s, time was tough but always food clothing and a home. No heating except the front room. My dad brought up in the depression said he stole a boys lunch once as he was hungry. Can you blame any one who simply wants to survive. I'm speechless that in the 21st century this is happening. Meanwhile the rich get richer, the Tories do what ever there stinking rich backers want. Do they know no shame????

something like that we had in Poland almost 10 years ago what's happened on this country ?

One of my children's schools when they were younger would put a bin on each table and anyone that didn't want their fruit cup,yogurt,etc. Could put it in this biñ instead of throwing it out. If anyone was still hungry or didn't have a lunch, they could just help themselves.

As an ex debt worker I bet lots of parents are paying non priority debts over food and heating. Seen it before.

NOBODYS GOING TO LIKE THIS BUT IF YOU CANT AFFORD THEM DONT HAVE THEM PLUS ALL KIDS IN UK GET Eldest or only child £21.80 Additional children £14.45 per child PER WEEK I THINK THATS ENOUGH TO MAKE A PACK LUNCH.

The same struggles are happening here in the US too. I think this is a global problem and governments are doing very little to rectify the problem.

I wonder how many of those parents still smoke or still drinking, while saying I have no money for food..

My school doesn't have much space to build a new building for it to become a kitchen, plus it doesn't have much carpark space for vehicles to park

Absolutely mad. The only reason why this is allowed is because of out of touch politicians.

Stop having more kids when you can't even afford one

My old primary school.❤ TowerHamleta provide free school meals for children...it should be for ALL children.

How about taking extra work or maybe go to work and provide for your children

You need to fire your politicians for incompetence.

Shouldn't raise kids if your not financially stable, not right to raise kids like this. Good on the schools tho to pick up on government and parental slack and providing this service to children in need.

Britain seems to be in a big mess Australia has free dental doctors hearing tests for every child

This is so sad.

So tragic horrendous third work United Kingdom

No one should have to earn essentials. I have foraged & stolen my food for years and have never been caught. I will not stop. Exchanging money for food is abhorrent and should not be normalised.

Yup. Growing up poor we NEVER complained to our parents about being hungry. We stole or would get something at a friend's house.

It’s the family’s fault because they can find a way to feed there kid this is the land of opportunity and in America if a kid goes hungry it’s your fault

We didn't get so much as a free glass of water when l was at school. We just didn't have more kids than we could afford!

My grandson pays for his friends school dinners as his parents can’t afford it .

Even criminals in jail get free meals but not needy children!

It's a sad state of affairs when parents don't have the money to feed their own kids. But it's not parents..Its singular..Parent.. Those women can't feed their own kids. If I remember rightly there was a time when even the poorest of men provided for their wives and family. That was his job and his duty and respect within the family. No woman will respect a man that is not needed or a man that is justifiably prone to apathy because he can lose everything. Charity is soul-destroying but British family law is a stake through the heart of the core of society.

I can solve this crisis immediately. Jack rates to 10% base rate now! Job done! Furthermore schools need to postpone school uniforms. Give me the pm job!

That school head teacher is really cool......I wish my kids went there.

I bet that lovely lady speaking here and that headmaster go home and weep! If only we all come together with the same hearts and minds as these compassionate people, then we will be so much better. Life does not improve for a society who stop caring about one another, it only breaks down more!